Southern Moderate African American Issues

President Obama’s Islam Speech and the Two-State Solution

Muhammad Ali once said the problem with Atlanta is that it is surrounded by Georgia but the Two-State Solution is not about our state and the “Cairo” President Obama is visiting is not in syrup-making Grady County.

The comprehensive speech President Obama made today outlines the history of Islam that was not covered in my comprehensive high school. Obama’s personal history uniquely qualifies him to mend the damaged relationship between America and the Muslim World. But, he did not blink regarding our support for Israel’s right to peaceful exist. What Obama did today was less John Wayne cowboy mentality and more Sidney Poitier 60s smooth.

I wonder how many southerners recognize that Abraham had two sons –Isaac and Ishmael—and that Ishmael is a prophet in Islam.

Genesis 21:17-21 (New International Version)

17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”

President Obama is correct in supporting the Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine because that conflict needs resolution. At the risk of hyperbole, Obama speech on Islam and the Muslim world is one of the top ten presidential speeches of all time to me and could “simmer down” our conflict with the followers of that faith. I particularly liked the way our president used passages from the Quran and Holy Bible to illustrate that terror was wrong.

Peace

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4 Responses

I can’t say I share your sentiment in regards to his speech. It seems to denote a certain level of naivete that seems to afflict Westerners across the political spectrum ranging from the Jim Baker/Brent Scrowcroft crowd to Bush 43/Condi rice to Jimmy Carter/Brzezinki crowd when dealing with Islam in general and the Middle East in particular. Nothing amazes more than the willingness to accept the grievances of the “Muslim World” (to the extent there is any unanimity or uniformity within majority muslim countries) at face value on any number of issues, ranging from the Crusades to colonialism to arab-israeli conflict without the slightest bit of historical analysis.

papadoc19: You are right. It is all about historical analysis and this president has a grasp of the importance to Islam, Native Americans, Africa, Asia and other parts of the world in weaving the world tapestry. Not to say that Europe is not significant; just saying that we have spent enough time focusing on Europe and treating the rest of the world as second rate.

I guess my biggest problem is the tendency to buy into Arab victimhood without calling them on their Sh*t. No one seems to want explore arab imperialism, the arab slave trade, their significant role in and interest creating and perpetuating the palestinian-israeli conflict. Much of the run-up to this trip and speech revolved around the United States (in the form of Obama) finally speaking truth to the Israelis and getting tough on them. If you are going to speak truth, then speak to everyone about everything.

PS: While he is at it, let us have an honest and frank discussion about Islam and dispense with the empty platitudes.